Matthew Leese baritone and conductor

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Dr. Matthew Leese is known as a versatile conductor, singer, and director.

His performing experience in the USA, Canada, Asia, Europe and in his native country New Zealand includes dozens of solo and ensemble performances and recordings. Matthew is a core member of the medieval quartet Liber and Kansas City-based professional choir Spire. Other recent singing engagements include performing with Bourbon Baroque in Louisville, KY and on tour with the Mark Morris Dance Group. Recent conducting experience includes serving as director of the Millikin University Women’s Choir, as Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church of Urbana, IL and numerous opera productions. As a stage director, Matthew is known for his expertise in baroque stage movement and preparing his own performance texts. Dr. Leese received degrees in Voice from the University of Otago in New Zealand, the Longy School of Music at Bard College, Indiana University at Bloomington and his Doctorate in Choral Conducting and Literature from the University of Illinois.

Matthew is Music Director of the Chamber Singers of Keene, Conductor-in-Residence of Voices of the Bay in St. Andrews, NB, Interim Music Director for the Monadnock Chorus, Stage Director for Raylynmor Opera and serves as an Adjunct Professor of Music at Keene State College.